For Immediate Release: January 20, 2021
Contact: media@colorofchange.org

Color Of Change: Biden-Harris Inauguration Marks Historic Moment in Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement 

NATIONWIDE –  In response to today’s historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson issued the following statement:

“Today’s presidential transition marks a seminal moment for our country as we celebrate the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris – the first Black, Asian, and woman Vice President of the United States of America. With a Biden-Harris administration, there is an opportunity to build a more just and equitable nation for Black people and marginalized communities alike to ensure that racial justice is a central part of our government moving forward. President Biden’s inaugural speech, focused on unity, peace, and the need to defeat the rise of white supremacy and domestic terrorism brings hope, but we know the road ahead will take diligence, organizing and hard work.

This past year alone laid bare how Black people continue to face life-threatening crises across various sectors of daily life, from the economy, to the healthcare system, to social media, and police departments. Now, only the most holistic and aggressive approach towards racial justice solutions can possibly reverse the deeply-rooted inequities that threaten our communities and our society as a whole. The Biden-Harris administration and Cabinet appointees must work closely with racial justice groups, civil rights advocates, and Black-led social movements in order to actively dismantle systemic racism and fight for the very people who got them in these positions of power in the first place.

This includes, but certainly isn’t limited to, prioritizing equitable COVID-19 relief, criminal justice reform, heightened tech and corporate accountability, and the safeguarding of voting rights across the country. The administration must acknowledge the racial justice movement as active players on the field — not cheerleaders in the stands. Success will be contingent on their ability to urgently listen to the concerns of Black communities and incorporate our voices into the decisions that impact us.

While President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have frequently announced their firm commitment to dismantling systemic racism and oppression, the people deserve to see the realities of that promise in the early days of this administration. Color Of Change has presented a number of short-term and long-term policies for President Biden and his entire Cabinet and White House team to be held accountable to the needs of Black voters who turned out in record numbers to vote.

Here are a few immediate demands for the administration to begin down the road:

1. 1. Keep military-grade equipment out of our communities.
   2. Suspend all government use of discriminatory algorithms.
   3. Hold police departments, prosecutors’ offices, jails, and prisons accountable for discriminatory and unlawful patterns and practices.
   4. Create and enforce civil rights regulations for Big Tech companies.
   5. Protect voting rights, election security, and a functioning democracy.

For Color Of Change and our millions of members, this is the beginning of our next chapter — one in which we will leverage our power to break down systems of oppression and enact policy change that creates a more equitable country for Black people. We congratulate Vice President Harris and President Biden on this pivotal, historic moment and look forward to working together to achieve overdue justice and equity for Black Americans.”

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About Color Of Change: 
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force, 7 million people have taken action with Color Of Change this year. We move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more humane and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.